Well… Ok. Getting there.

First of all, the weather was much nicer today. Second, I explored a new area that looked far better than what I had previously seen. I might even go so far as to say: I see the appeal. ^

I grabbed a matcha frappe-style refreshment at the Riverside Market (yes, with whipped cream—the matcha, that is, not the market) and made my way to the Earthquake Memorial by the river. I don’t know what Christchurch looked like before the earthquake, but now it feels very modern. There are still quite a few construction sites, though I can’t say for sure whether they’re ongoing repairs or just new projects.

Opposite the Memorial wall, there’s a Pounamu with a sprinkler that created a pretty rainbow—an unexpected sight!

I enjoy browsing souvenir shops and popped into one just to compare prices with what I’ve seen elsewhere. The cashier was a tour guide at heart, and it was adorable to see how much joy he got from giving customers the best travel tips while being equally kind to everyone. From my experiences in hostels and on campsites so far (at least sometimes), more people could take a leaf from his book.

I asked where I might find a blue post box, and wow—what a detailed description! (Yes, I actually found it, despite my awful sense of direction.) He even, for whatever reason, had a photo of the post box on his phone, which he was happy to share. :D

One great thing about some hostels is the ‘For Free’ box. Apparently, people really don’t like—or need—hot chocolate. Luckily, I know someone who does. :)Read more